Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti stated on Saturday that Kylian Mbappé struggles this season are largely due to the team’s overall inconsistency. 

The French forward missed a penalty in Wednesday’s Champions League defeat to Liverpool, a loss that marked their third in five matches in the competition. Since joining in the summer after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappé has faced criticism for his performances, having scored just two goals in his last nine appearances for Madrid.

“It’s not about one player; the real issue is that the team as a whole has failed to be consistent,” Ancelotti said. “We need to work on improving that. Mbappé is new here and still adapting, but he has already scored eight goals and contributed with assists. Yes, he can improve, but so can all of us, and we will continue to push for improvement.”

Mbappé was excluded from the last two France squad selections and has also dealt with personal challenges during his early months at the Santiago Bernabéu. “He’s certainly not discouraged. He knows he has room for improvement, just like the rest of us,” Ancelotti added. “After missing the penalty in the Liverpool game, he has been under intense scrutiny, but he is not alone in facing criticism—many of my players have been in the same position.”

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Ancelotti also noted that the loss to Liverpool was partly due to injuries to key players like Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal, and Eder Militao. However, he confirmed that Brazilian winger Rodrygo would be fit for their next match against Getafe. Real Madrid, currently second in La Liga, are four points behind leaders Barcelona, although they have one match in hand.

“I’m in the same situation as Mbappé, trying to give my best performance,” Ancelotti said. “The results show that I haven’t been able to do that yet. I’m not happy with where we are, but I’m confident we’ll resolve it, just like we always do.

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